If I hear one more word about the plight of the “job creators” - I think I’m going to explode. Please let’s get real on this issue. It has degenerated to the point where all you hear is incomprehensible slogans and veiled threats of pulling the plug on yet more jobs if taxes on the rich are allowed to rise by so much as a dime. Since they weren’t creating jobs in the first place - stating that this will prevent them from creating jobs seems a moot point. This is another example of fact-free political pandering. The facts be damned when you are trying to convince the masses that what is bad for them is actually good.
The New York State Millionaires Tax - an onerous burden? Not so much…
This year I just wanted to get through the 10th anniversary of 9/11… There was a fatigue in me that I think the entire country is sharing that made me want to turn away and move on. Days like this are days of reflection. And given the state of the world our country, the environment and the economy perhaps I thought it was best not to reflect too carefully. After all, we know what we are going to see and it isn’t pretty. It is perhaps best that we pass this one by quickly and not stare at the reflection too carefully.
But I was up late last night and happened by a special on CNN with Sanjay Gupta regarding the “dust” of 9/11 and it brought home to roost many things that I find very disturbing about America.
The republicans have FINALLY found a tax hike they can get behind. Why? It increases taxes on he poor while sparing the super rich - who are carry so much water for the rest of us - from an more undo responsibility.
But in order to justify the tax hikes - there must be a villian - a group of people who can be demonized for not properly pulling their weight. What better target than Main Street America - particularly the working poor?
No this is not a parody on freedom fries and all things anti-French American.
Once my brain stopped rattling today - I came to a epiphany that had long been hibernating in the darkest corners of my mind. It was one of those “ah -hah!” moments that is generally cause for self-congratulation. But not in this case. My epiphany can summed up in a simple sentence: Our government is no longer a functioning entity.
Our Government has been hijacked a religious and ideological faction:
Our government no longer functions because it has been hijacked by by religious and ideological extremists locked in an unholy alliance with a Machiavellian oligarchy. The power rests with the monied elite in the oligarchy while the tea party extremists are merely tools for business interests. The tea party enables and the oligarchy continues to disable what little is left of our republic.
From - http://www.flickr.com/photos/speakerpelosi/
I have long been an Obama apologist - after all we have an entrenched “tea party” of freshman congressmen along with massively corrupt DC infrastructure thanks to unlimited campaign funds from big business. Obama entered office at the worst possible time. There is a common saying which is actually a curse: “May you live in interesting times.” A worse curse might will be “May you win high office in interesting times.” Politics - after all - is the art of the possible. Those who dig in and won’t budge - in the end won’t last.
However, the president’s performance this week tells me that he may not have what it takes to govern in this environment. He is first and foremost a constitutional lawyer and a scholar. Nothing wrong with that. I would rather have a scholar than a cowboy like Bush as POTUS in such a challenging environment.
Apparently the GOP is back to their “austerity” measures and the people of Joplin MO could suffer for it. Eric Cantor lead the charge. Compassionate soul that he is, Cantor feels that the people of Joplin deserve aide - but only if it means cutting back on OTHER government programs…. you know ….little things like unemployment insurance, medicare and social security. Nothing of any major importance for a country in the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.
Simple Solutions or Simplistic Nonsense?
Yes, Eric Cantor was in the news again touting his “kitchen table” economics and trying to apply it the devastation in Joplin MO. It really is very simple isn’t it? I mean - if you save $10k for a new car but your house is blown down by a Tornado - you use the $10k to rebuild your life, right? Sorry that does not fly.
The audacity of advocating for Main Street America…
Elizabeth Warren - Barack Obama’s special adviser to the CFPB (the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) was on Jon Stewart a couple of weeks ago discussing the trials and tribulations facing the nascent bureau. It’s not as though other newly formed government agencies don’t have their problems or issues. But this particular bureau has the nerve to actually want to protect the average American. God forbid that should ever happen. Jon Stewart of The Daily Show drove home the point. “It’s a bureau looking to protect consumers from corporate malfeasance. Obviously there is massive Congressional resistance to it.”
Its been a while since I posted - and I’m trying to get back into the swing of things.
Its a scary world when we get some of our best information from the likes of Comedy Central. But Jon Stewart made me aware of a bizarre amendment to the 911- First Responders Bill. Of course this twist is so bizarre - perhaps this is the most appropriate place for such a report. Apparently a late amendment to the bill forces first responders to prove they are not terrorists before receiving benefits.
Last week I was the victim of a robbery. I’ve worked in some rough neighborhoods in my time - and have never once been robbed. So imagine my surprise when my briefcase was snatched by a man on foot who then jumped into a car with an accomplice and drove off.
A good Samaritan managed to observe the crime and took off after the robbers. A high speed chase with several police cars and the good Samaritan ensued and the stoned robber was cornered in a neighboring town in what only can be described as a domestic version of “shock and awe.” I was stunned at the man-power on the scene that was involved in recovering a stolen computer bag/briefcase.
Although I was grateful to get my iPhone back and my wallet and papers, had these crime Lords gotten away - I would have been lighter about $600 and change. It also has cost me in terms of business because of the time and hassle involved. (more…)
Buffalo NY blogger vs Madison WI Governor Scott Walker
Hats off to Ian Murphy - a writer fro the BuffaloBeast.com without him - no one would know the extent of the diabolical intent of the debate raging in Madison WI over collective bargaining.
Apparently, this gentleman doesn’t know the meaning of the word “no” and when the democratic State Senators claimed that they could not get in contact with the Governor Walker - he jumped in with an out-of-the-box method of establishing contact. Pretending to be billionaire contributor David Koch - Mr. Murphy found that Governor Walker had a surprising amount of time on his hands for a simple phone conversation.
Thinking he had a sympathetic ear - the Governor let down his hair and established for the record that he was sleazy enough to be a master exploitive politics. He also had enough hubris to fancy himself a latter day Ronald Reagan.
By all means go to the Buffalo Beast to see the transcript - I have embedded the interview conducted by Lawrence O’Donnell on “The Last Word” yesterday.
